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Several weeks ago I was watching the Steven Spielberg series Into the West, and I was struck by a scene where a buffalo herd followed a group of Indians who jumped off a cliff (the Indians had secured themselves with ropes just under the cliff). How often do we act like buffalo, I wondered, following what others are doing without questioning how or why it is being done?
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Our natural tendency is to do things the way they have always been done. Following the herd seems easier than straying from it, but in the long run being different may be the only way to survive.
Here a few things to remember when innovating:
- There is no "right" way to be innovative.
- Innovation is more important now than ever before. Not innovating, regardless of your business, puts you at risk.
- Being brilliant isn't enough. You must also be bold. Even good ideas are brushed aside, often because they seem dangerous.
Innovators are risk-takers who honor intuition, make time for day-dreaming and stay focused on their goals and ideas - even when their ideas are viewed as crazy. Self-esteem is crucial for survival.
Here's what innovators do:
- Challenge the status quo, question authority, and confront assumptions.
- Be curious.
- Learn continuously.
- Entertain outrageous ideas and believe in the impossible.
- Take risks.
- Stay flexible and adapt behavior or thinking to fit new circumstances.
Fun places to stimulate innovative thinking might be when:
- Showering or shaving in the bathroom.
- Traveling to work.
- Falling asleep or waking up in the morning.
- Sitting through a boring meeting.
In my book, “Playing with the Big Boys,” Anne Sweeney, president of Disney said, "It's important to find the unknown exciting. A key to success is having the ability and willingness to open the door that someone else hasn't yet opened. Forge the new path. Turn things upside down and think about them differently. Take things apart and put them back together again. Everything is up for grabs." It's not doing what everyone else is doing that is going to get you noticed. Find out what works best for you then step into your creativity.
Believe in your ideas, take action, and stick with it. It will be worth it in the end.
Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless gas that can build up inside a home, potentially causing significant harm.
Unlike natural gas, carbon monoxide has no telltale scent, so early detection is important. Poisoning may be detected through the onset of early flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches, and nausea. Prolonged exposure may result in death.
Carbon monoxide can enter the home through a variety of sources including car exhaust, blocked chimneys, cracked furnace heat exchangers, and leaks in gas appliances. Recent studies have  estimated that up to 10% of homes have indoor carbon monoxide levels exceeding safe limits.
The good news is that you can keep your family safer by paying attention to a few details.
AN UP-TO-CODE DETECTOR.
UL 2034 or IAS 6-96 on your alarm ensures that it is up-to-code. Older models are known to fail to sound an alarm when they should.
THE RIGHT LOCATION.
Place one detector on each floor and in hallways near sleeping areas.
NEVER RUN A CAR IN AN ATTACHED GARAGE.
Carbon monoxide could creep into your house even if the outer garage door is open. Be especially careful if the garage adjoins a bedroom.
KEEP A WATCHFUL EYE FOR TELLTALE SIGNS.
Have a professional check for leaks when there is excessive moisture build-up on windows, a decrease in hot water supply, furnace with trouble heating the house, or soot gathering around gas vents. Because it takes time for enough carbon monoxide to build up to register on an alarm, do not rely on simply holding a detector to your appliances or heating systems. Be sure to leave your detectors mounted or plugged in all year long.
Breathe cleanly and safely at home.
Taking time to have some personal fun enhances creativity, increases productivity, lowers blood pressure, and relieves stress, making you feel good all over. Invite more fun into your life.
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Walk “happy.”
Cheerful people take big steps, swing their arms and maintain good posture. Copying that stride can boost your energy.
Glance at a special photo.
Slip a favorite happy snapshot into your wallet, car visor or desktop. Sneak a look for an instant lift.
Surprise yourself.
Be spontaneous. Grab an ice cream or a sundae in the middle of the day or go to that movie you've been wanting to see.
Hum your favorite tune.
Sound frequencies produced when you hum switch your brain-wave patterns to a state of relaxation, which, in turn, unleashes feel-good chemicals.
Grin!
Grinning or making silly faces at yourself in the mirror, even if you're faking it, triggers bodily changes that make you feel more cheerful.
Did you know?
Studies show just saying the word “ahhhhh” makes you immediately feel calmer and more cheerful.
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Surveys show that a guest room is the one place in a house that most of us are concerned about getting just right. Your guests are bound to feel welcome if you follow these simple tips.
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Put together a welcome basket of necessities ranging from toothpaste and a new toothbrush to Tylenol and bottled water and of course, fresh-cut flowers.
Clear clutter from the closet to leave plenty of space for your guests' things. Be sure to have enough empty hangers, and leave an empty dresser drawer lined with pretty fragrant paper.
Place a comfy chair next to a small table and lamp to ensure that your guests have a cozy place to read and relax. That way, you won't find them perching uncomfortably on the side of the bed.
Be sure to put nightlights in the bedroom and guest bathroom, so people who aren't familiar with the layout of your home can get around in the dark.
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A neat and tidy home for 2007 is possible. The experts offer these suggestions.
GET HELP.
Accept help from a friend or a professional, knowing you just can't do it all alone.
FIND MOTIVATION.
Focus on the benefits and realize that clearing the clutter is going to free you up. Plan a reward or treat when it's all over.
PLAN IN ADVANCE.
Create a block of uninterrupted time in advance just like you would a doctor's appointment. Start with one room or a drawer and stay focused.
TOOLS IN PLACE.
Where are the newly exorcised items going to go? Be sure to have garbage bags, boxes and labels handy.
GET STARTED.
Toss the no-brainers. Then get rid of the “slightly more than feels comfortable.” Get them out of the house right away.
SAVOR THE MOMENT.
Enjoy that reward you planned and pat yourself on the back.
REPEAT.
Don't think for a moment that a one-time approach will be all you need to clean it all up. Practice your newly found skills and make them work for you.
In a forced warm-air system, a blower fan pulls air from various rooms throughout the house into the cold-air return duct. The air passes through a filter and into the furnace where it is heated. The warm air is then forced into the rooms though ducts and registers that are located adjacent to exterior walls near windows or doors. 
Maintenance of Forced-Air Components:
- Clean or replace the air filter monthly during the heating season
- Clean the fan blower blades at the start of each season
- Check the belt for wear, alignment and tension (1/2” to 3/4” deflection is normal)
- Examine the ducts for leaks and seal with duct tape
- Keep cold-air returns clear of blockage by furniture
- Check auxiliary components (humidifier or central air conditioner) for leaks into the unit
Gas burners are usually associated with warm-air furnaces but could also fuel hot water or steam heating systems. When the thermostat calls for heat, the gas valve opens, allowing gas to flow into a manifold and then into venturi tubes where it mixes with air. The mixture is ignited by an electric spark or constant pilot light. The heat exchanger separates the circulated warm air and exhaust gases. (Check these for cracks every few years.) The thermocouple closes the gas valve if the pilot light is not working.
Conventional furnaces have a 60-70% efficiency and draft naturally to exhaust gases up the chimney. Mid-efficiency units achieve a 75-85% efficiency by incorporating an induced draft fan. High-efficiency furnaces achieve a 90-97% efficiency due to a secondary heat exchanger that extracts heat from the exhaust gases, which would normally flow up the chimney.
THIS IS AN EXCERPT FROM PILLAR TO POST® HOME INFORMATION SERIES
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL HOME INSPECTOR FOR A FULL VERSION
The magic word that will lighten your load is “no.” If you have trouble saying it, you're not alone, but saying “yes” all the time can make you resentful. Saying “no” is easier if you:
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Keep it simple.
“Thank you for asking but I just can't.” Giving a lot of reasons for saying no will only help the other person change your mind.
Carry a Date Book.
Looking at the date book will communicate that you really are busy and give you time to consider.
Be Positive.
Say what you are willing to do.
Hold your head high.
Guilty body language opens the door for persistence and the likelihood you will give in.
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BURNERS DO NOT LIGHT
Check to see if there is a pilot flame; check the thermocouple position and connection; check the breaker or fuse with an electronic spark ignition.
PILOT FLAME WILL NOT STAY ON
Check that the head of the thermocouple is directly in the flame; replace the faulty electronic starter; replace the thermocouple.
INSUFFICIENT HEAT
Adjust the air intake; clean clogged burner ports.
EXPLODING SOUND AT START UP
Clean the pilot orifice; clean clogged burner ports or crossover.
EXPLODING IN YELLOW OR ORANGE
Adjust the air intake; clean manifold gas jets; clean burners.
Pillar To Post® Home information series
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